Authorities Searching for Body of Missing Big Spring Man

Staff ReportNewsWest 9

BIG SPRING - Authorities have spent the day searching a large piece of property north of Big Spring looking for a missing man.

"We've had over the last several years, have received information about the possiblity about finding Arlin Bynum or evidence related to his disappearance at this location," said Dale Walker, Howard County Sheriff.

Howard County authorities executed federal and state warrants early Tuesday morning looking for Arlin Bynum. Bynum went missing in August of 2003. He was last seen at a club in downtown Big Spring.

Multiple agencies from Howard and Midland counties have been searching Horace Atkinson's property near the Old Colorado City Highway and Highway 350. Horace Atkinson and his sons have both been detained as part of the investigation. 36-year-old Clay Atkinson was arrested on Conspiracy to Manufacture Meth charges. He will be arraigned in Midland's Federal Court Wednesday morning.

SWAT officers started watching the property at 1:00 Tuesday morning. Officials executed the warrants just before dawn. About 27 horses and riders with the mounted patrol searched for clues.

Howard County Sheriff Dale Walker would not say exactly how Bynum was linked to the property. Walker did say the federal warrant was issued after Atkinson applied for a hunting license. That process discovered fire arms violations. Atkinson is a convicted felon.

"The federal warrant was served on the Atkinson's in reference to firearms investigations so they're looking for any violations of firearm, federal firearm violations as well as any documents related to firearms or narcotics," Sheriff Walker said.

If you have any information related to the investigation, you are urged to contact local law enforcement or Crime Stoppers.